Serrated carrier latch for firearms



April 15, 1952 R. E. CLARKSON 2,592,853

. SERR-ATED CARRIER LATCH FOR FIREARMS Filed Oct. 28; 1949 2SHEETS-SHEET 1 Patented Apr. 15, 1952 SERRATED CARRIER LATCH FORFIREARMS Ralph E. Clarkson, Hamden, Conn., assignor to Olin Industries,Inc., New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application October28, 1949, Serial No. 124,117

Claims. 1

The present invention relates in general to firearms and more especiallyto improvements pertaining to the reloading means of an autoloadingfirearm.

The invention is especially well illustrated by reference to a firearmof the autoloading type having a tubular magazine for storing cartridgesand automatically delivering the cartridges successively onto a pivotedcartridge-carrier or elevator following discharge of the firearm, therecoil of the firearm incident to discharge thereof serving toautomatically unlock the breechblock and move it rearwardly in thereceiver, thereby extracting and ejecting the fired shell, releasing afresh shell from the tubular magazine for delivery onto the carrier, andelevating the carrier to align the fresh cartridge thereon with thechamber of the barrel for chambering by the breechblook on returnthereof to breech-closing position.

In general, autoloading firearms'of this type have a combinedcartridge-cutoff and cartridge carrier-latch which is pivotally mountedin one wall of the receiver immediately above the carried for positivelylocking the carrier down in its normal position opposite the exit end ofthe tubular magazine, and which is adapted to be engaged and actuated bya fresh cartridge delivered onto the carrier by the magazine-springthereby to automatically unlock the carrier and simultaneously engagethe next succeeding cartridge in the magazine, to prevent prematuredelivery thereof onto the carrier.

It has happened not infrequently that a cartridge delivered from thetubular magazine onto the carrier by the combined forces of themagazine-spring and the counter-recoil of the firearm is drivenrearwardly onto the cartridge-carrier with such velocity and violencethat it rides up over the carrier-latch and hence does not actuate thecarrier-latch to unlock the cartridge-carrier, in which instance theb-reechblock will be automatically locked at the end of its rearwardexcursion, thereby interrupting the automatic ac A still further objectof the invention is to provide an autoloading firearm withoppositelydisposed longitudinal guard-means within the receiver, one ofwhich is movable laterally with respect to the other for holding acartridge delivered onto the carrier in operative engagement with thecarrier-latch.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an autoloadingfirearm with a superior carrier-latch in one wall of the receiver,having a plurality of serrations cooperatively associated with aguard-rib on the opposite wall of the receiver, whereby a cartridgebeing automatically delivered onto the carrier during counter-recoil ofthe firearm, will be held downon the carrier in operative engagementwith the carrier-latch.

With the above and other objects in view,,.as'

will'appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure,this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which arenovel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out thepresent invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation partly in section of an autoloadingfirearm embodying the improved cartridge guard-means of this inventionfor holding a cartridge in cooperative engagement.

with the carrier-latch during automatic reloading of the firearm;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken side elevation in section of the firearm ofFig. 1, showing the action open and a fresh cartridge delivered part wayonto the carrier from the magazine, the cartridge being held down on thecarrier in operative engagement with the carrier-latch by the along, itslower right-hand edge to disclose the longitudinal guard-rib in theopposite wall of the receiver; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the carrier-latch lookingmainly toward its inner face and "showing the plurality oflongitudinalvsei rations-formed thereon.

The firearm shown in the drawings and described below for the purpose ofillustrating one embodiment of the invention, is an autoloading firearmcomprising, in the main, a receiver [3 including a trigger-plate Hdetachably secured thereto, a barrel l2 fixedly secured to the forwardend of thereceiver and having abarrel-extension I3 slidable relative tothe receiver, a tubular magazine l4 including a fore end "I5 fixedlysecured to the receiver beneath the barrel [2, and a buttstock l6fixedly secured on the rear end of the receiver, the buttstock having alongitudinal passage therethrough for accommodating the action-returnspring [8 and operating-link assembly I9 of the breechblock 20.

The latter is adapted to be supported in the receiver for bothlongitudinal and pivotal movement therein by means of a pair of slides.The latter are mounted in guide-grooves in opposite sides respectivelyof the receiver and have a lost-motion connection with the rear end ofthe breechblock, the lost-motion connection comprisinga pivot-pin '21extending through the rear ends of the slides and through the cam-slots22 .at the rear end of the breechblock. The pivotpin 2| serves also toconnect the forward end of the operating-link IQ of the action-spring tothe breechblock.

The fire-control mechanism of the autoloading firearm is supported bythe trigger-plate II and embodies a pivot trigger 23 for cocking andreleasing the pivoted hammer 24 (Fig. 4). Pivotally mounted on theforward end of the triggerplate as at 25 is a cartridge-carrier orelevator 26, the forward end or spoon 2! of which is located'normally inthe loading-opening '28 in the bottom of .the receiver and substantiallyin alignment with the rear end of the tubular magazine I4, thecartridge-carrier being adapted to be actuated by thebreechblocklforsequentially elevating a fresh cartridge fed thereon fromthe rear end of the tubular magazine upwardly into position to bechambered in the barrel by the return movement of the breechblock. Inorder for the .breechblock to actuate the carrier, the latter isprovided with a rearwardly-extending reach 29 having a carrier-actuatingdog 30 pivoted thereon and resiliently held substantially upright withrespect thereto by means of a combined actuating-dog-and-carrier spring3!, the upper end of the actuating-dog having camsurfaces 32 adapted tolie in the path of the breechblock so as .to be engaged and actuatedthereby during the rearward and forward excursions thereof thereby topositively elevate the cartridge-carrier. Other details of thefire-control mechanism and breechblock assembly not shown and describedherein, are considered to be ancillary to a clear understanding of thepresent invention but :are shown in greater detail and described atlength in the copending application of Williams, Ser. No. 733,617, filedMarch 10,1947, and patented May 9, 1950, as Patent No. 2,506,982.

As pointed out at the outset, the present invention is concernedprimarily with improved means for preventing malfunctioning of anautoloading firearm during reloading and, in particular, to prevent acartridge which is automatically fed rearwardly onto thecartridge-carrier from the tubular magazine, on counter-recoil of thefirearm, from inadvertently riding upwardly off'of the carrier, suchthat it fails to engage and :actuate the carrier-locking latch andunlock the carrier. A

being urged normally The means of this invention for preventingmalfunctioning of the autoloading firearm in the manner described aboveis hereinafter referred to as cartridge guard-means and, as shownespecially well in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, comprises, in general,oppositely-disposed guard-ribs within the receiver extendinglongitudinally thereof and located vertically above the upper surface ofthe carrier, as shown especially well in Fig. 3, the guard-ribs on oneside of the receiver being movable laterally with respect to theguard-rib on the opposite side of the receiver. More particularly, thelongitudinal guard-rib in the lefthand side of the receiver constitutesthe upper edge '33 of a relatively-shallow substantiallyrec-tangularlongitudinal clearance-recess 34 formed in the inner wall of theleft-hand side of the receiver. The forward end of this clearance-recess34 is located immediately adjacent the rear end of the tubular magazine,while the rear end of the clearance-recess 34 constitutes acartridge-camming surface blending into the substantially-verticalplanar surface of the receiver-wall, as shown especially well in Fig. 4.As is shown in Fig. 3, the vertical disposition of the cartridgeguard-rib 33 with respect to the upper surface of the cartridge-carrierspoon 21 is such that the flange of the head of a cartridge movingrearwardly on the carrier-spoon will be engaged by the guard-rib 33 at apoint on the flange above the horizontal axis of the cartridge therebyto effectively hold the head of the cartridge down on the carrier.

The guard-ribs on the right-hand side of the receiver are indicatedgenerally at 36 and comprise a plurality of ribs or serrations formed onthe inner vertical face of the combined cartridgecutoff andcarrier-latch 31 which, as shown especially well in Figs. 3 and 6,comprises an elongated lever-member substantially rectangular in crosssection and pivotally supported intermediate its ends in aclearance-recess 38 in the inner wall of the right-hand side of thereceiver by a substantially-vertical pivot-pin 39 for lateral movementin and out of its clearancerecess, the rear end 40 of the carrier-latch31 inwardly laterally by means of a coil spring 4| to engage over theadjacent edge of the carrier, so as to lock the latter down in itsnormal position for receiving a cartridge from the tubular magazine. Theopposite or forward end 42 of the carrier-latch is provided with aninwardly-projecting cartridgecutoff lip 43 for regulating the deliveryof cartridges from the tubular magazine, in the manner well known to theart; and an operatingbutton 44 which projects outwardly through anaperture in the right-hand side of the receiver for facilitating manualoperation of the carrierlatch, for releasing the carrier. In thepreferred construction, the guard-ribs 36 are serrations formed bycutting or scoring a plurality of longitudinal V-shaped grooves on theinner vertical face of the carrier-latch, the serrations extendinglongitudinally from a point immediately adjacent the rear end 40 of thelatch forwardly to a point thereon substantially opposite thecarrier-latch operating-spring 4i and vertically from the upper edge ofthe latch downwardly .of its face to a point slightly above the bottomedge thereof such that engagement will be insured with the flange of acartridge-head.

The provision of a plurality of substantiallyparallel longitudinal ribsor serrations 36 on the vertical inner face of the carrier-latch ispreferred in order that these serrations 36, in conjunction with thesingle guard-rib 33 on the opposite wall of the receiver, will servesuccessfully to hold down the heads of all cartridges on the carrier,regardless of slight variations in the diameters of the cartridge-heads.Moreover, inasmuch as the serrations 36 are on the vertical inner faceof the inwardly-projecting rear end of the pivoted carrier-latch, theywill intercept a cartridge as it moves rearwardly on the carrier. Theflange of the cartridge-head will thus engage forcefully against thelongitudinal serrations of the carrier-latch in dis placing the latteroutwardly from its path, whereupon the serrations 36 will scoremicroscopic grooves in the flange of the cartridge-head. Thesemicroscopic grooves, in conjunction with a microscopic groove formed inthe opposite edge of the flange by the fixed guard-rib 33, serve toeffectively hold the head of the cartridge down on the carrier inoperative engagement with the carrier-latch.

Assuming a live shell is in the chamber of the barrel and the action isclosed, then on discharge of the firearm,- the breechblock will beautomatically unlocked and moved rearwardly in the receiver, therebysimultaneously extracting the fired cartridge and ejecting it from thecartridgeejection opening 45 in the right-hand wall of the receiver. nrecoil of the firearm incident to discharge of the cartridge, the columnof cartridges in the tubular magazine will be, in effect, movedforwardly therein to compress the magazine-spring 46. However, oncounter-recoil' of the firearm, the column of cartridges in the tubularmagazine will be moved rearwardly with considerable force by thecombined action of the magazine-spring and the counter-recoil, therebyprojecting the rearmost cartridge of the tubular magazine rearwardlyonto the carrierspoon 21, which is held down in its normal position bymeans of the carrier-latch, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. As the rearmostcartridgeslides rearwardly on the carrier, its head will move laterallyslightly into the clearance-recess 34, whereupon the flange of thecartridge-head will immediately engage the guard-rib 33 and serrations36 respectively at opposite sides of the receiver, the fixed guard-rib33 and the plurality of laterally-movable serrations 36 actually scoringmicroscopic grooves in the adjacent edges of the flange of thecartridge-head and, consequently, serving to positively hold the head ofthe cartridge from riding up off of the carrier out of engagement withthe carrier-latch. The guard-rib 33 and serrations 36 thus effectivelyhold the cartridge-head in operative engagement with the carrier-latch,then as the head of the cartridge is cammed out of the clearance-recess34 and moves to its rearmost position on the carrier, the head of thecartridge fulfills its normal function of swinging the rear end of thecarrier-latch outwardly laterally against the resistance of thecarrier-latch spring 4| thereby to unlock the carrier and automaticallycut off the next cartridge in the magazine. Hence, on the subsequentforward movement of the breechblock, cooperative engagement of thelatter with the actuating-dog 30 of the carrier-reach 29,

serves to q elevate the carrier-spoon 21 and the cartridge supportedthereon upwardly into substantial alignment with the forwardly-movingbreechblock, which engages and urges the elevated earjtridge forwardlyinto the chamber of the barrel. As the breechblock moves forwardly '36is formed on the vertical inner face of the carrier-latch, it is withinthe purview of the invention to arrange the respective guard-ribs in thereverse order, that is to say, with a plurality of longitudinalsubstantially closely-spaced serrations on the inner wall of theleft-hand side of the receiver and a single longitudinal guardrib on thevertical inner face of the carrierlatch; or to provide a plurality ofguard-ribs within the receiver at opposite sides of the carrier, i. 'e.,a plurality of serrations on the lefthand inner wall of the receiver andon the vertical inner face of the carrier-latch respectively.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than thoseherein set forth without departing from the spirit and essentialcharacteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalencyrange of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. In an autoloading firearm, including in combination: a barrel; atubular magazine; a receiver; a breechblo-ck reciprocably mounted insaid receiver for movement to and from barrelclosing position; acartridge-carrier movably mounted in said receiver and arranged to be.actuated by reciprocable movement of said breechblock to transfer acartridge from said tubular magazine into the path of movement of saidbreechblock for chambering in said barrel:

carrier-latch means carried by said receiver and arranged to lock saidcarrier in position to receive a cartridge from said tubular magazine;and cartridge guard-means comprising a plurality of longitudinalserrations within said receiver adjacent one side of saidcartridge-carrier and disposed above the upper surface thereof, saidplurality of serrations being arranged to be engaged by the head of acartridge as said cartridge is delivered onto said carrier from saidtubular magazine to hold the head of said cartridge down on said carrierin operative engagement with said carrier-latch for unlocking saidcarrier.

2. In an autoloading firearm, including in combination: a barrel; atubular magazine; a receiver; a breechblock reciprocably mounted in saidreceiver for movement to and from barrelclosing position; acartridge-carrier movably mounted in said receiver and arranged to beactuated by reciprocable movement of said breechblock to transfer acartridge from said tubular magazine into the path of movement of saidbreechblock for chambering in said barrel; carrier-latch means carriedby said receiver and arranged to lock said carrier in position toreceive a cartridge from said tubular magazine; and cartridge-guardmeans comprising a longitudinal rib within said receiver adjacent oneside of said cartridge-carrier, and a plurality of longitudinalserrations within said re- 7 ce'iver adjacent the opposite side of saidcartridge-carrier, .said rib and said serrations being disposed abovethe upper surface of said-carrier and arranged to .be engaged by thehead of a cartridge as said cartridge is delivered onto said carrierfrom said tubular magazine to hold the head of said cartridge down onsaid carrier in operative engagement with said carrier-latch forunlocking said carrier.

3. In an autoloading firearm, including in combination: a barrel; atubular magazine; a receiver; a breechblock reciprocably mounted in saidreceiver for movement to and from barrelclosing position; acartridge-carrier movably mounted in said receiver and arranged to beactuated by reciprocable movement of said breechblock to transfer acartridge from said tubular magazine into the path of movement of saidbreechblock for chambering in .said barrel; carrier-latch means carriedby .said receiver and arranged to lock said carrier in position toreceive a cartridge from said tubular magazine; and cartridge-guardmeans on said carrier-latch comprising a plurality .of longitudinalserrations arranged to be engaged by the head of a cartridge as saidcartridge is delivered onto said carrier from said tubular magazine tohold the head of said cartridge down on said carrier in operativeengagement with said carrier-latch for unlocking said carrier.

4. In an autoloading firearm, including in combination: a barrel; atubular magazine; a receiver; a breech'b'lock reciprocably mounted insaid receiver for movement to and from barrelclosing position; acartridge-carrier movably mounted in said receiver and arranged to beactuated by reciprocable -movement of said breechblock to transfer acartridge from said tubular magazine into the path of movement of saidbreechblock for chambering in said barrel; carrier-latch means carriedby said receiver and arranged to lock said carrier in position toreceive a cartridge from said tubular magazine; and cartridgeguard-means comprising a longitudinal rib on the inner wall of one sideof said receiver, and a plurality of longitudinal serrations on thevertical inner face of said carrier-latch substantially opposite thelongitudinal rib on the said inner wall of said receiver, saidoppositely-disposed longitudinal rib and serrations being arranged to beengaged by the head of a cartridge as said cartridge is delivered 8 ontosaid carrier from said tubular magazine to hold the head of saidcartridge down on said carrier in operative engagement with saidcarrier-latch for unlocking said carrier.

5. In an autoloading firearm, including in combination: a barrel; atubular magazine; a receiver; a breechblock reciprocably mounted in saidreceiver for movement to and from barrelclosing position; acartridge-carrier movably mounted in said receiver and arranged to beactuated by reciprocable movement of said breechblock to transfer acartridge from said tubular magazine into the path ofmovement of saidbreechbloc-k for chambering in said barrel; a carrier-latch pivotallymounted in said receiver for lateral swinging movement therein andarranged to lock said carrier in position to receive a cartridge fromsaid tubular vmagazine; and cartridge guard-means comprising alongitudinal rib on the inner wall of one side of said receiver anddisposed above the upper surface of said cartridge-carrier, and a plurality of closely-spaced substantially-parallel serrations in the verticalinner face of said pivoted cartridge carrier-latch substantiallyopposite the longitudinal rib on the said inner wall of said receiver,said longitudinal rib and said closely-spaced substantially-parallelserrations cooperating to form a restricted passage in the path ofmovement of a cartridge delivered onto said carrier from said tubularmagazine whereby said longitudinal rib and the saidsubstantially-parallel serrations of said carrier-latch score thecorresponding sides of the head of said cartridge to positively hold thecartridge down on said carrier in operative engagement with saidcarrier-latch for unlocking said carrier.

RALPH E. CLARK-SON.

REFERENCES CITED The :following references are of record :in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,03%839 Stevenson Oct. 1, 19121,096,615 Febiger May 12, 1914 1,099,621 Schildback June .9, 19141,788,637 Schmidt Jan. 13, .1931 1,940,657 Woodfcrd Dec. '19, 1933

